Syrian President Assad sworn in for 3rd term

Associated Press

Published 6:24 pm, Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press

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In this photo released on the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syria's President Bashar Assad, right, waves to attendees upon his arrival to the presidential palace to take the oath of office for his third seven-year term in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Proclaiming the Syrian people winners in a "dirty war" waged by outsiders, President Bashar Assad was sworn in on Wednesday for a third seven-year term despite the bloody civil war ignited by a mass uprising against his rule. (AP Photo/Syrian Presidency via Facebook) less

In this photo released on the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syria's President Bashar Assad, right, waves to attendees upon his arrival to the presidential palace to take the oath of office ... more

Photo: Uncredited, Associated Press

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A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on July 16, 2014, shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arriving to be sworn in for a new seven-year term, during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Assad, 48, won a June election denounced as a "farce" by his detractors as it was staged more than three years into a devastating war that has killed more than 170,000 people and uprooted millions. AFP PHOTO/HO/SANA == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / SANA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===-/AFP/Getty Images less

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on July 16, 2014, shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arriving to be sworn in for a new seven-year term, during a ceremony at the ... more

Photo: -, AFP/Getty Images

Syrian President Assad sworn in for 3rd term

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Damascus --

Proclaiming the Syrian people winners in a "dirty war" waged by outsiders, President Bashar Assad was sworn in on Wednesday for a third seven-year term despite the bloody civil war ignited by a mass uprising against his rule.

Assad, who appeared confident and occasionally made jokes during his inaugural address, declared victory over "terrorism" and said countries that supported the Syrian opposition "will pay a high price."

The grandiose ceremony at the presidential palace in Damascus caps a year of steady battlefield advances by Assad's forces against the outgunned rebels, who have been bogged down by infighting since January.

A band played the Syrian national anthem after which the 48-year-old president was seen walking a red carpet past an honor guard into a hall packed with members of parliament and Christian and Muslim clergyman.

Wearing a dark blue suit and a blue shirt and tie, Assad placed his right hand on Islam's holy book, the Quran, and pledged to honor the country's constitution.

"I swear by the Almighty God to respect the country's constitution, laws and its republican system and to look after the interests of the people and their freedoms," he said to thunderous applause.

He then launched into an 80-minute speech in which he praised the Syrian people for holding the vote and for "defeating the dirty war" launched against them.

Throughout the crisis, Assad has maintained that the conflict tearing his nation apart is a Western-backed conspiracy executed by "terrorists" - and not a popular revolt inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings, one seeking to end his family's four-decade autocratic rule.

Assad won 88.7 percent of the ballots cast in the first multicandidate elections in decades. But voting did not take place in opposition-held areas of Syria, effectively excluding millions of people.

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